Rough Trade Singles Vol 17 & 18

Vol. 17 opens with "This Charming Man" followed by The Pastels, Jazzateers, Weekend (a live EP with the late Keith Tippett), Rainy Day, Prefab Sprout, and Dislocation Dance (with a version of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out").

Vol. 18 starts with "Kicker Conspiracy". RT 143 was a double 7" set which preceded Perverted By Language, The Fall's final album for Rough Trade (and the first to feature Brix Smith). Brix appeared in the videos for Kicker and Wings (which were directed by Kickboy Face!), but Marc Riley was still in the band when the songs were recorded.

Next up are The Go-Betweens, Ivor Cutler and Linda Hirst, The Smiths, The Violent Femmes, Chris & Cosey (with The Eurythmics), Robert Wyatt, and Float Up CP. Two of the Wyatt songs ("Biko" and "Amber And The Amberines") were produced by Adrian Sherwood. The first thousand copies of Wyatt's Work In Progress EP (RT 149) included "Alfie and Robert Sail Off Into the Sunset", a hidden track based on "You're Wondering Now" (written by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and made famous by The Specials).

Vol. 18 ends with RT 150, Float Up CP's 1984 single (with a non-LP b-side). Float Up CP was most of Rip Rig & Panic (Neneh Cherry, Gareth Sager, Bruce Smith and Sean Oliver) joined by Ollie Moore from Pigbag on sax. Four years later, Neneh had a hit single. Now her daughter with Bruce Smith, Naima Karlsson, is a jazz musician and member of the duo Exotic Sin.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that Gareth Sager is releasing a new album of "avant-rock dubs" called How Can I Help You When You Don’t Want To Help Yourself?  It will be out in November through the good offices of the Creeping Bent Organisation.

Gareth One: Gareth Sager

Gareth Sager & The Hungry Ghosts have just released Juicy Rivers, a new album on Scotland's influential Creeping Bent label. Guests include Davy Henderson (Fire Engines, Win, Nectarine No.9, and Sexual Objects) and the late great poet Jock Scot. "Ten stunning tracks of avant-punk funk sound and fury," the press release calls it. 

Perhaps best known as guitarist for The Pop Group and Rip Rig & Panic, Gareth Sager has had a lengthy and fascinating musical career.  Two years ago the equally fascinating blog Nothin' Sez Somethin' indulged my obsession and allowed me to go into excessive depth about Gareth's post-RR&P music:

The Bristol band Head; Sager's first two solo albums; his group Pregnant; and his collaborations with aforementioned Creeping Bent associates Davy Henderson and Jock Scot (plus a few tracks from the reunited Pop Group).

Further listening: Gareth Sager's mixtapes for Lynchland and The Voice Of Cassandre; and his recent interview with Mike Watt.  Photo from Sager's Twitter: members of Head (stoned?) on Kerouac's headstone.